Water jet-propelled craft



Feb. 13, 1962 R. P. GIERCZIC WATER JET-PROPELLED CRAFT 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed March 24, 1961 INVENTOR E/C'HA P0 P. G/EEC'Z/ 0 Feb. 13, 1962 R. P. GIERCZIC 3,020,872

WATER JET-PROPELLED CRAFT Filed March 24, 1961 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Feb. 13, 1962 R. P. GIERCZIC 3,020,872

WATER JET-PROPELLED CRAFT Filed March 24, 1961 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 I-NVENTOR.

Feb. 13, 1962 Filed March 24, 1961 R. P. GIERCZIC WATER JET-PROPELLED CRAFT 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 United States Patent 3,020,872 WATER JET-PROPELLED CRAFT Richard P. Gierczic, Metairie, La. (10139 Seawood Drive, New Orleans 27, La.) Filed Mar. 24, 1961, Ser. No. 98,226 13 flairns. (Cl. 115-12) This invention relates to a novel water jet-propelled and water jet-steered craft.

The primary object of the invention is the provision of an improved craft of the kind indicated which is more efficient, stabler, and more safely and easily maneuverable, and which can be reversed and steered through 360.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a craft of the character indicated above wherein the engine and pump assembly for the jet is simpler and more compact, and wherein the design of the hull bottom and the water scoop incorporated in the hull bottom reduces the power requirement of the engine and assists the pump in producing a powerful water jet.

A further object of the invention is the provision of a craft of the character indicated above which includes simpler, more effective, and more easily operated valved by-pass means, both for controlling the supply of water to the jet to determine the water-speed of the hull, and for cleaning the screen of the water intake of the scoop.

A still further object of the invention is the provision of a craft of the character indicated above which has simpler, more efiicient, and more easily operated tension adjustable steering means for directionally rotating the jet, for steering and maneuvering the hull.

Yet another object of the invention is the provision in a craft of the character indicated above, of more efficient and better water-sealed thrust bearing mounting of the rotatable tube of the water jet, the components of which are easily disassembled and replaced when necessary.

Other important objects and advantageous features of the invention will be apparent from the following description and the accompanying drawings, wherein, for purposes of illustration only, a specific form of the invention is set forth in detail.

In the drawings:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of a water craft of the present invention;

FIGURE 2 is an enlarged vertical longitudinal section taken on the line 22 of FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 3 is a horizontal section taken on the line 33 of FIGURE 2;

FIGURE 4 is a further enlarged, fragmentary vertical longitudinal section taken on the line 4-4 of FIGURE. 3;

FIGURE 5 is a fragmentary horizontal section, partly broken away, taken on the line 5-5 of FIGURE 4;

FIGURE 6 is a fragmentary vertical transverse section taken on the line 6-6 of FIGURE 4;

FIGURE 7 is a further enlarged fragmentary vertical longitudinal section taken on the line 7-7 of FIGURE 3;

FIGURES 8, 9 and 10 are fragmentary horizontal sections taken on the lines 88, 9- 9, and 10-10, respectively, of FIGURE 7;

FIGURE 11 is a fragmentary perspective view of the by-pass valve and its operating lever;

FIGURE 12 is a vertical section taken on the line 12 12 of FIGURE 11, showing the core of the by-pass valve positioned to direct water only to the jet; and,

FIGURE 13 is a View like FIGURE 12, showing the valve cone positioned to by-pass water only to the return pipe to the scoop.

Referring in detail to the drawings, wherein like numerals designate like parts throughout the several views, the invention is herein illustrated as involving a pleasure ice powerboat hull 16 having relatively straight parallel sides 18 having convergent forward portions 20 meeting 1n a forwardly canted stem or prow 22, a squared transom 24, and a specially formed relatively flat bottom 26.

As shown in FIGURES 1 and 2, the hull bottom 26 comprises a fiat horizontal main portion 28, which extends for a major portion of the length of the hull 16, and terminates, at its rear end, in an upwardly and rearwardly angled and curved, straight transverse kick-up 30. The kick-up 30 merges, at its upper end, into a flat horizontal rear bottom portion 32, which reaches to the lower end of the transom. The rear bottom portion 32, as shown in FIGURE 2, is spaced above the main bottom portion 28. A flat, substantially unindented fioor 34 extends across and along the interior of the hull 16, on the level of the rear bottom portion 32, and is spaced upwardly from the main bottom portion 28. The portion 36 of the floor immediately forward of the kick-up 30, upon which the power plant rests, is braced by transverse members 38.

A longitudinally elongated water scoop 40 indents the main bottom portion 28, immediately forward of the floor portion 36, and preferably extends forwardly therefrom for about one-third of the length of the bottom 26. The scoop 40 is on the longitudinal centerline of the hull bottom 26, and comprises parallelly spaced side walls 42 which are spaced at a distance from each other which is less than the distances between the related sides 18 of the hull. The scoop 40 has a flat top wall 44 which is angled upwardly and rearwardly, preferably at an acute angle, and terminates, at its rear end, in a relatively short combined intake and hull elevating plate 46, which is disposed at an angle of about 45 to the horizontal, and which, in forward travel of the hull 16 in the water, serves to elevate the rear end of the hull 16 in the water and relieve some of the subsiding tendency of the rear end of the hull produced by the weight of the power plant.

As shown in FIGURE 4, the plate 46 has a lower end, which merges into the forward end of the portion of the main bottom portion 28 which intervenes between the plate 46 and the kick-up 30, and the plate 46 is formed, adjacent its lower end, with a water intake opening 48, of relatively large diameter, and also with a smaller diameter opening 50, through which extends the lower end of an engine cooling system water intake pipe 52. A screen 54 extends across the scoop 40 and is spaced forwardly from the plate 46, and comprises a downwardly and rearwardly angled main portion 56, and a relatively short horizontal portion 58, which reaches to the lower end of the plate 46. Entering a side wall 42 of the scoop 40, be neath the meeting of the scoop top wall 44 and the plate 46, is the lower end 62 of a water return or by-pass pipe 60. Water driven by the pump of the power plant and entering the scoop 40 from the'by-pass pipe 60, and passing across the screen 54, operates to clear the screen portion 56 of obstructive material, while the horizontal screen portion 58 is unaffected by the water'issuing from the by-pass pipe, and is free to provide passage of water to the engine cooling system intake pipe 52.

The power plant, generally designated 64, comprises a suitable engine, preferably an internal combustion engine (not shown) which is enclosed within a housing 66, and is supported upon the rear floor portion 36 and is spaced from the hull sides 18. The engine has a cooling system, not shown, to which the water intake pipe 52 is connected, and a water outlet pipe 67 which extends rearwardly through the transom 24, as shown in FIG- URE, 3. A muffler tail pipe 69 leads from the engine housing through the transom. An enclosed gear or belt train 68, on one end of the engine housing 66, extends forwardly therefrom and has driving connection with the related end of a transverse pump shaft 70, which is jour:

nalled in spaced bearings 72, upstanding from the hull floor rear portion 36. A rotary water pump 73 is mounted, as indicated at 74, upon the rear floor portion 33, in line with and close to the rear end of the scoop 40. In line with the pump shaft 70, a water outlet pipe 76 extends from the opposite side of the pump 73, and enters one end of the body 78 of a by-pass valve 80.

As shown in FIGURES 11 to 13, the by-pass valve body 73 has right angularly spaced ports 82 and 84, respectively, which open radially to a blind bore 36 containing a rotary hollow core 88 having a single sidewall opening 90, which is optionally registrable with either of the ports 82 and 84, by rotation of a shaft 92, which is connected to the core, and has a radial operating lever 94 thereon, outside of the body 78. When the core opening 90 is registered with the port 82 water passes from the pump 72, through a water supply pipe 96 to the hull propelling jet assembly, but when the core opening 90 is registered with the port 84, all of the water from the pump passes to the by-pass or return pipe 60, into the scoop 40. In intermediate positions of the valve core 88 flow of water to both the supply pipe 96 and the by-pass pipe is cut off, or is proportioned therebetween, so that the jet assembly is supplied with water at a reduced rate and pressure, which results in slower travel of the hull 16 in water.

Control of the by-pass valve operating lever 94 is provided, as shown in FIGURES 3 and 4, by a cable 98 which extends along the hull side 18, adjacent to the bypass valve 80, and is trained between spaced rear guide pulleys 100, and 102, an intermediate pulley 104, and a forward pulley 106, are mounted on its hull side, and, at its forward end, extends laterally inwardly and i passed around a guide pulley 108, upstanding from the hull floor 34, and terminates in a contractile take-up spring 110 which is secured, at its rear end, to an upper part of an upstanding foot lever 112 which is pivoted, at its lower end, on the floor 34, behind the pulley 108, as indicated at 114. A lever return spring 116 is stretched between a lower part of the lever 112 and a floor bracket 113 positioned forwardly of the lever. At its rear end, the cable 98 is connected, as indicated at 120, in FIGURE 11, to the upper end of the operating lever 94, and a contractile cable tensioning spring 122 is connected, at its forward end, to the lever 94, and, at its rear end, is adjustably connected to a bracket 124 on the hull side. As shown in FIGURES 2 and 3, a ratchet dog 126 on the upper end of the lever 112 is engaged with an arcuate ratchet bar 128 for holding the lever in adjusted positions. The ratchet bar 128 is fixed on the side of a vertical longitudinal partition wall 130, rising from the hull floor 34 beneath the rear part of a forward hull deck 132, and supporting a forwardly declining transverse plate 134, which is joined, at its rear end to an upstanding instrument panel 136 which reaches to the deck 132. A steering shaft 138 extends forwardly through the instrument panel 136 and is joumalled through spaced brackets 139 and 140, rising from the plate 134. The steering shaft 138 has a steering wheel 142 on its rear end. It is to be noted that, because of the transverse arrangement of the engine and the engine housing 66, and its location on the rear end of the hull 16, above the transom 24, that a maximum of usable space is afforded in the hull 16, between the power plant and the instrument panel 136, in which transverse seats 144 can be placed on the floor 34, in generally longitudinally spaced relationship.

As shown in FIGURE 3, the jet water supply pipe 96 extends rearwardly from the by-pass valve 80 and is supported, intermediate its ends or spaced transverse cross bars 148 and 150, extending between the hull sides 78, to which the supply pipe is secured, as by means of straps 152. The supply pipe 96 has a downward bend 154, on its rear end, which is connected to the jet assembly, generally described 156. A. hood 157 can be provided over the power plant, which extends forwardly from the transom and between the hull sides 18, at the upper edges thereof, which is provided with a forwardly opening air scoop 159 over a spring 161, whereby cooling air is circulated around the engine housing 66 and can provide, in the case of an internal engine, in the housing, some supercharging for its carburetor (not shown).

As shown in FIGURES 2, 3 and 7 to 10, the jet assembly 156 comprises a support plate 158 which is a central forwardly extending part of a transversely elongated brace plate 162 which extends along and is fixed to the transom 24, and at its ends, to the hull sides 18, and is supported, at its forward end, by a prop 164 rising from the rear hull floor portion 32.

The jet assembly 156 further comprises an upper cupshapcd bearing housing 166, which is secured in place upon the support plate 1558, around an opening 167 in the latter, as by means of bolts 16%. Seated in the housing 166 is the lower race 170 of a radial thrust ball bearing 172, which has an upper race 174 which encircles and is fixed to a vertical rotary tube 176 which extends through the bearing 172. A washer 173 overlies the upper race 174 and is overlaid by a pulley wheel 130, which is hinged to the rotary tube 176, as indicated at 182. Above the pulley wheel, the tube 176 has an externally threaded upper end 184 which is threaded into an opening 186 in the bottom of a cup-shaped upper packing gland housing 188. The housing 188 is fixed against rotation, as by means of a radial set screw 19% bearing against the upper part of the tube 176. Packing rings 192 are engaged in the housing 188 and are compressed downwardly by a gland 194, engaged in the upper end of the housing 188 and having lateral ears 196 which are traversed by vertical screws 193 which are threaded into the upper end of the sidewall of the housing 188. The bend of the jet water supply pipe 96 provides a vertical lower portion 200 which extends down through the packing rings 192 and has a running fit in the upper end of the rotary tube 176.

Fixed, as by weldings 202, upon the rear hull fioor portion 32, is a lower cup-shaped packing gland housing 204, whose bottom 206 is formed with a central vertical bore 208 which conformably and tightly receives the skirt 210 of a lateral thrust bearing 212, having a flange 214, on its upper end, which bears upon and is secured to the housing bottom 206, as by means of screws 216. The lower end portion of the rotary tube 176 extends through the bearing skirt 210 and into an opening 218, provided in the hull bottom portion 32. Packing rings 220 are engaged in the housing 204, around the tube 176, and are downwardly compressed by a tubular gland 222, engaged in the upper end of the housing 204 and having lateral ears 224, traversed by vertical screws 226, threaded into the upper end of the housing.

A short vertical external groove 228 is formed in the sidewall of the rotary tube 176 and opens to the lower end thereof, and, at its upper end, opens to a radial port 230 in the sidewall, whereby water passing through the tube 176 can reach and lubricate the space between the tube 176 and the bearing skirt 210.

The jet assembly 156 further comprises a tubular elbow 232, having a reduced neck 234 on its upper end, having a port 235, registered with the port 230 which is threaded upwardly into the lower end of the rotary tube 176, and is locked against rotation relative thereto, as by means of a set screw 236, traversing the tube sidewall and engaged with the neck. The horizontal arm 238 of the elbow 232 terminates in a threaded socket 240, which is larger in diameter than the bore 242 of the elbow. A relatively short tubular jet nozzle 244 has a reduced neck 246 which is threaded into the socket 24-9, with a shoulder 248 bearing against the outer end of the socket, and with a set screw 250 threaded through the sidewall of the socket and engaged with the neck 246. The bore 252 of the nozzle 244 is preferably flared, from its inner end to its outer end, the inner end of the bore 252 being the same in diameter as the elbow bore 242. The foregoing arrangement provides for 360 rotation of the jet nozzle 244, through application of rotating force to the pulley wheel 180.

Suitable rotating means for the jet nozzle pulley wheel 180 can comprise an endless belt 254 which is trained around the pulley wheel 180, and has horizontal longi= tudinal flights 256 which extend along the inner surfaces of the hull sides 18, through tubular guides 258 secured to the sides 18. At the rear ends of the guides 25% the belt flights 256 are trained around rear guide pulleys 26f), fixed on the brace member 162, and, at their forward ends, around forward guide pulley 262, located forwardly of and spaced below the instrument panel 136. The part 263 of the belt 254 intervening between the forward ends of the flights 256, is trained around a pulley wheel 264, which, as shown in FIGURE 2, is fixed on an upstanding shaft 266 which is journalled through a transverse support 268, extending between the hull sides 18, and is seated, at its lower end, in a bearing 27%) on the hull floor. Fixed on the upper end of the shaft 266, above the pulley wheel 264, is a bevel pinion 272, which is in mesh with a bevel gear wheel 274, fixed on the forward end of the steering column.

For taking up any slack developing in the belt 254, an automatic, adjustable take up device 276 is provided, which is fixed on and extends rearwardly and horizontally from a standard 278 connected to the partition wall 136. The device 276 comprises a reclining U-shaped yoke 280 having spaced legs 282 and a bight portion 284, through which an adjusting screw 286 is journalled. A stop collar 288, fixed on the screw 286, bears against the bight portion 284. A runner 288 is threaded on the screw 286 and has secured thereto the rear end of a contractile coil spring 290, whose forward end extends through an opening 292 in the standard 278, and is secured to a clevis 234, carrying an idler pulley 296, which bears rearwardly against the intervening port 263 of the belt 254. Rotation of the screw 286, by means of a knob 298, provided on its rear end, in opposite directions produces tightening and loosening of the belt 254.

As shown in FIGURES 4 to 6, the rotary pump 73 preferably comprises a closed cylindrical housing 300, composed of separable pan-shaped sections 302 and 394, having peripheral flanges 366, secured together, as by means of bolts 308 extending therethrough. The hous; ing section 302 is provided, on its web 310, with an external central packing housing 312, which spacedly surrounds a shaft spring 314, through which extends the above mentioned pump shaft 70. Packing rings 318 surround the shaft 70 and are compressed in the housing by a gland 320 threaded thereinto. At one side thereof tial intake pipe 322 which is registered with the water outlet opening 48 in the scoop elevating plate 46, the

end of the pipe 322 being provided with a lateral flange 324, which is secured to the plate 46, as by means of bolts 326.

.55 the pump housing section 302 is provided with a tangenwith the sidewall 338 of the housing section 302. Rotation of the wear ring in the section 302 is prevented by ,a lock screw 340 threaded in a bore 342, one-half of which is in the ring 336 and the other half in the section sidewall 338. The rotor 334 comprises a flat cylindrical vwall 348, on which is circumposed an annular impeller blade ring 350. A lock screw 352 is threaded in a bore 354, one-half of which is in the ring 350 and the other half in the peripheral wall 348, as shown in FIGURE 6. Fixed to and circumferentially spaced around the ring 350 are notched spiral blades 352, which, when the rotor 334 is rotated, pulls water into the pump housing 300 through the inlet pipe 322, and draws the water through an axial discharge opening 354, provided in the web 356 of the housing section 304, in which the related end of the water supply pipe 96 is threaded. A vent pipe 358 for the pump housing enters the top of the section 302 and extends rearwardly through the hull transom 24'.

In operation, with the engine running and driving the pump 73, and with the by-pass valve adjusted to direct water under pressure through the supply pipe 96 and the jet assembly 156 to the jet nozzle 244, a jet of water issues from the nozzle 244 and propels the hull in a direction opposite to the movement of the water jet. Thus, if the jet nozzle is entered rearwardly, straight forward travel of the hull 16 through the water is produced. When the nozzle is directed straight forwardly, rearward or reverse travel of the hull is produced. In similar manner, the hull 16 is steered to either side of straight forward travel, by angling the nozzle laterally between its forward and rear positions, to the side of the hull opposite to the direction of turn desired.

It is to be observed that the location of the jet elbow and the jet nozzle 244 on an elevation spaced above the hull bottom 28, enables the hull to operate in shallow water and to avoid injurious contact of the elbow and nozzle with shoal bottoms. Further, this arrangement enables the hull 16 to be pulled upon on beaches and banks without injury to the nozzle and elbow.

It will also be observed that the components of the power plant as well as those of the jet assembly 156, are easily disassembled and replaced, when desired, and are of such simple construction that they can be readily manufactured at relatively low cost. Although there has been shown and described herein a preferred form of the invention, it is to be understood that the invention is not necessarily confined thereto, and that any change or changes in the structure of and in the relative arrangements of components thereof are contemplated as being within the scope of the invention as defined by the claims appended hereto.

What is claimed is:

1. In combination, a water craft having a hull, said hull having a bottom, upstanding sides, a transom, and a stem, said bottom comprising a main flat horizontal portion, said main portion terminating at its rear end in a kick-up spaced forwardly from the transom, said bottom having a rear portion behind said kick-up into which said kick-up merges, said bottom being indented to provide a centered longitudinally elongated water scoop spaced forwardly from said kick-up, said water scoop having parallel side walls, and a rearwardly inclined top wall,

said top wall terminating at its rear end in a rearwardly .and downwardlyhull elevating plate, a power plant mounted on the hull behind the scoop and having a pump having a water intake pipe opening through said elevating plate, said pump having a water supply pipe leading therefrom, and a water jet assembly mounted on the hull and having a vertical rotary tube to which said supply pipe is connected, said rotary tube having a lower end located in an opening in said rear bottom portion, an elbow having a vertical arm connected to the lower end of the tube and a horizontal arm terminating in a water jet nozzle, and steering means mounted in the hull and operatively connected to said rotary tube.

2. In combination, a water craft having a hull, said hull having a bottom, upstanding sides, a transom, and a stem, said bottom comprising a main flat horizontal portion, said main portion terminating at its rear end in a kick-up spaced forwardly from the transom, said bottom having a rear portion behind said kick-up into which said kick-up merges, said bottom being indented to provide a centered longitudinally elongated water scoop 2' V spaced forwardly from said kick-up, said water scoop having parallel side walls, and a rearwardly inclined top wall, said top wall terminating at its rear end in a rearwardly and downwardly hull elevating plate, a power plant mounted on the hull behind the scoop and having a pump having a water intake pipe opening through said elevating plate, said pump having a water supply pipe leading therefrom, and a water jet assembly mounted on the hull and having a vertical rotary tube to which said supply pipe is connected, said rotary tube having a lower end located in an opening in said rear bottom portion, an elbow having a vertical arm connected to the lower end of the tube and a horizontal arm terminating in a water jet nozzle, and steering means mounted in the hull and operatively connected to said rotary tube, and a screen extending across the water scoop and spaced forwardly from the elevating plate, said screen having a forwardly inclined portion and a horizontal portion at the lower end of said inclined portion and extending rearwardly to the lower end of the plate.

3. In combination, a water craft having a hull, said hull having a bottom, upstanding sides, a transom, and a stem, said bottom comprising a main flat horizontal portion, said main portion terminating at its rear end in a kick-up spaced forwardly from the transom, said bottom having a rear portion behind said kick-up into which said kick-up merges, said bottom being indented to provide a centered longitudinally elongated water scoop spaced forwardly from said kick-up, said water scoop having parallel side walls, and a rearwardly inclined top wall, said top wall terminating at its rear end in a rearwardly and downwardly hull elevating plate, a power plant mounted on the hull behind the scoop and having a pump having a Water intake pipe opening through said elevating plate, said pump having a water supply pipe leading therefrom, and a water jet assembly mounted on the hull and having a vertical rotary tube to which said supply pipe is connected, said rotary tube having a lower end located in an opening in said rear bottom portion, an elbow having a vertical arm connected to the lower end of the tube and a horizontal arm terminating in a water jet nozzle, and steering means mounted in the hull and operatively connected to said rotary tube, said pump having a discharge pipe, a bypass valve connected between the discharge pipe and the water supply pipe and intervening between said water supply pipe and the pump, said by-pass valve having a water return pipe leading therefrom and entering the water scoop in front of said elevating pipe, said by-pass valve comprising a body having ports severally opening to the return pipe and the supply pipe, and movable core means for closing both ports, at one time, opening one port and closing the other, and partially opening both ports.

4. In combination, a water craft having a hull, said hull having a bottom, upstanding sides, a transom, and a stem, said bottom comprising a main flat horizontal portion, said main portion terminating at its rear end in a kick-up spaced forwardly from the transom, said bottom having a rear portion behind said kick-up into which said kick-up merges, said bottom being indented to provide a centered longitudinally elongated water scoop spaced forwardly from said kick-up, said water scoop having parallel side walls, and a rearwardly inclined top wall, said top wall terminating at its rear end in a rearwardly and downwardly hull elevating plate, a power plant mounted on the hull behind the scoop and having a pump having a water intake pipe opening through said elevating plate, said pump having a water supply pipe leading therefrom, and a water jet assembly mounted on the hull and having a vertical rotary tube to which said supply pipe is connected, said rotary tube having a lower end located in an opening in said rear bottom portion, an elbow having a vertical arm connected to the lower end of the tube and a horizontal arm terminating in a water jet nozzle, and steering means mounted in the hull and operatively connected to said rotary tube, said pump having a discharge pipe, a by-pass valve connected between the discharge pipe and the water supply pipe and intervening between said water supply pipe and the pump, said by-pass valve having a water return pipe leading therefrom and entering the water scoop in front of said elevating pipe, said bypass valve comprising a body having ports severally opening to the return pipe and the supply pipe, and movable core means for closing both ports, at one time, opening one port and closing the other, and partially opening both ports, and control means for said valve core means, comprising a cable leading forwardly along a hull side from said bypass valve core means, and a lockable adjusting lever mounted in a forward part of the hull to which the cable is connected.

5. In combination, a water craft having a hull, said hull having a bottom, upstanding sides, a transom, and a stem, said bottom comprising a main flat horizontal portion, said main portion terminating at its rear end in a kick-up spaced forwardly from the transom, said bottom having a rear portion behind said kick-up into which said kick-up merges, said bottom being indented to provide a centered longitudinally elongated water scoop spaced forwardly from said kick-up, said water scoop having parallel side walls, and a rearwardly inclined top wall, said top Wall terminating at its rear end in a rearwardly and downwardly hull elevating plate, a power plant mounted on the hull behind the scoop and having a pump having a water intake pipe opening through said elevating plate, said pump having a water supply pipe leading therefrom, and a water jet assembly mounted on the hull and having a vertical rotary tube to which said supply pipe is connected, said rotary tube having a lower end located in an opening in said rear bottom portion, an elbow having a vertical arm connected to the lower end of the tube and a horizontal arm terminating in a water jet nozzle, and steering means mounted in the hull and operatively connected to said rotary tube, said steering means comprising a steering wheel having a steering shaft journalled in a forward part of the hull, a pulley wheel operatively connected to said steering shaft, an endless belt trained around said pulley wheel and having flights extending rearwardly along the hull sides, guides on the hull sides through which said flights extend, rear guide pulleys on the hull sides near the transom, over which said flights are trained, the rotary tube of the jet assembly having a fixed pulley wheel thereon, the part of the belt between said rear guide pulleys being trained around the pulley wheel on the rotary tube.

6. In combination, a water craft having a hull, said hull having a bottom, upstanding sides, a transom, and a stem, said bottom comprising a main fiat horizontal portion, said main portion terminating at its rear end in a kick-up spaced forwardly from the transom, said bottom having a rear portion behind said kick-up into which said kick-up merges, said bottom being indented to provide a centered longitudinally elongated water scoop spaced forwardly from said kick-up, said water scoop having parallel side walls, and a rearwardly inclined top wall, said top wall termintaing at its rear end in a rearwardly and downwardly hull elevating plate, a power plant mounted on the hull behind the scoop and having a pump having a water intake pipe opening through said elevating plate, said pump having a water supply pipe leading therefrom, and a water jet assembly mounted on the hull and having a vertical rotary tube to which said supply pipe is connected, said rotary tube having a lower end located in an opening in said rear bottom portion, an elbow having a vertical arm connected to the lower end of the tube and a horizontal arm terminating in a water jet nozzle, and steering means mounted in the hull and operatively connected to said rotary tube, said pump being a rotary pump having a housing, and a vent pipe leading rearwardly from said housing through the hull transom.

7. In combination, a water craft having a hull, said hull having a bottom, upstanding sides, a transom, and a stem, said bottom comprising a main flat horizontal portion, said main portion terminating at its rear end in a kick-up spaced forwardly from the transom, said bottom having a rear portion behind said kick-up into which said kick-up merges, said bottom being indented to provide a centered longitudinaly elongated water scoop spaced forwardly from said kick-up, said water scoop having parallel side walls, and a rearwardly inclined top wall, said top wall terminating at its rear end in a rearwardly and downwardly hull elevating plate, a power plant mounted on the hull behind the scoop and having a pump having a water intake pipe opening through said elevating plate, said pump having a water supply pipe leading therefrom, and a water jet assembly mounted on the hull and having a vertical rotary tube to which said supply pipe is connected, said rotary tube having a lower end located in an opening in said rear bottom portion, an elbow having a vertical arm connected to the lower end of the tube and a horizontal arm terminating in a water jet nozzle, and steering means mounted in the hull and operatively connected to said rotary tube, said power plant comprising an internal combustion engine having a mufiler tail pipe leading rearwardly through the hull transom and having a cooling system, said cooling system comprising a water inlet pipe opening through the elevating plate of the water scoop and a discharge pipe leading rearwardly through the hull transom.

8. In combination, a water crafthaving a hull, said hull having a bottom, upstanding sides, a transom, and a stem, said bottom comprising a main fiat horizontal portion, said main portion terminating at its rear end in a kick-up spaced forwardly from the transom, said bottom having a rear portion behind said kick-up into which said kick-up merges, said bottom being indented to provide a centered longitudinally elongated water scoop spaced forwardly from said kick-up, said water scoop having parallel side walls, and a rearwardly inclined top wall, said top wall terminating at its rear end in a rearwardly and downwardly hull elevating plate, a power plant mounted on the hull behind the scoop and having a pump having a water intake pipe opening through said elevating plate, said pump having a water supply pipe leading therefrom, and a water jet assembly mounted on the hull and having a vertical rotary tube to which said supply pipe is connected, said rotary tube having a lower end located in an opening in said rear bottom portion, an elbow having a vertical arm connected to the lower end of the tube and a horizontal arm terminating in a water jet nozzle, and steering means mounted in the hull and operatively connected to said rotary tube, said jet nozzle and elbow being located behind said kick-up on a level above the hull bottom.

9. In combination, a water craft having a hull, said hull having a bottom, upstanding sides, a transom, and a stem, said bottom comprising a main fiat horizontal portion, said main portion terminating at its rear end in a kick-up spaced forwardly from the transom, said bottom having a rear portion behind said kick-up into which said kick-up merges, said bottom being indented to provide a centered longitudinally elongated water scoop spaced forwardly from said kick-up, said water scoop having parallel side walls, and a rearwardly inclined top wall, said top wall terminating at its rear end in a rearwardly and downwardly hull elevating plate, a power plant mounted on the hull behind the scoop and having a pump having a water intake pipe opening through said elevating plate, said pump having a water supply pipe leading therefrom, and a water jet assembly mounted on the hull and having a vertical rotary tube to which said supply pipe is connected, said rotary tube having a lower end located in an opening in said rear bottom portion, an elbow having a vertical arm connected to the lower end of the tube and a horizontal arm terminating in a water jet nozzle, and steering means mounted in the hull and operatively connected to said rotary tube, said power plant comprising an internal combustion engine having a mufller tail pipe leading rearwardly through the hull transom and having a cooling system, said cooling system comprising a water inlet pipe opening through the elevating plate of the water scoop and a discharge pipe leading rearwardly through the hull transom, and a cowl extending forwardly from the hull transom and between the hull sides and over the power plant, said cowl having an opening, and a forwardly opening wind scoop on said cowl registered with said opening.

10. In combination, a water craft having a hull, said hull having a bottom, upstanding sides, a transom, and a stem, said bottom comprising a main flat horizontal portion, said main portion terminating at its rear end in a kick-up spaced forwardly from the transom, said bottom having a rear portion behind said kick-up into which said kick-up merges, said bottom being indented to provide a centered longitudinally elongated water scoop spaced forwardly from said kick-up, said water scoop having parallel side walls, and a rearwardly inclined top wall, said top wall terminating at its rear end in a rearwardly and downwardly hull elevating plate, a power plant mounted on the hull behind the scoop and having a pump having a water intake pipe opening through said elevating plate, said pump having a water supply pipe leading therefrom, and a water jet assembly mounted on the hull and having a vertical rotary tube to which said supply pipe is connected, said rotary tube having a lower end located in an opening in said rear bottom portion, an elbow having a vertical arm connected to the lower end of the tube and a horizontal arm terminating in a water jet nozzle, and steering means mounted in the hull and operatively connected to said rotary tube, said jet assembly having a lower packing gland housing resting upon and fixed to said rear bottom portionaround an opening provided therein, said gland housing having a vertical bore containing a lower tubular thrust bearing through which the rotary tube is journalled, a horizontal support plate mounted in the hull and spaced above said rear bottom portion, said support plate having an opening passing the rotary tube, an upper bearing fixed to said support plate around its opening, a pulley wheel fixed on the rotary tube above and bearing upon said upper bearing, and an upper tubular packing gland housing having a bottom provided with an opening, means fixing the housing about the opening in the support plate, and packings compressed in said upper and lower gland housings around the rotary tube.

11. In combination, a water craft having a hull, said hull having a bottom, upstanding sides, a transom, and a stem, said bottom comprising a main fiat horizontal portion, said main portion terminating at its rear end in a kick-up spaced forwardly from the transom, said bottom having a rear portion behind said kick-up into which said kick-up merges, said bottom being indented to provide a centered longitudinally elongated water scoop spaced forwardly from said kick-up, said water scoop having parallel side walls, and a rearwardly in clined top wall, said top wall terminating at its rear end in a rearwardly and downwardly hull elevating plate, a power plant mounted on the hull behind the scoop and having a pump having a water intake pipe opening through said elevating plate, said pump having a water supply pipe leading therefrom, and a water jet assembly mounted on the hull and having a vertical rotary tube to which said supply pipe is connected, said rotary tube having a lower end located in an opening in said rear bottom portion, an elbow having a vertical arm connected to the lower end of the tube and a horizontal arm terminating in a water jet nozzle, and steering means mounted in the hull and operatively connected to said rotary tube, said pump being a rotary pump having a housing, and a vent pipe leading rearwardly from said housing through the hull transom, said rotary pump comprising a cylindrical housing composed of opposed and connected first and second sections, said sections befng pan-shaped and having webs and peripheral walls, a pump 11 shaft journalled through the web of the first section and carrying an impeller rotor in said first section, a wear ring connected to the peripheral wall of said first section in which the rotor runs, said Water intalte ppe entering the first section through its peripheral wall, said water supply pipe including a Water discharge pipe leading from an axial opening and pivoted in the web of the second pump housing section.

12. In combination, a water craft having a hull, said hull having a bottom, upstanding sides, a transom, and a stem, said bottom comprising a main fiat horizontal portion, said main portion terminating at its rear end in a kick-up spaced forwardly from the transom, said bottom having a rear portion behind said kick-up into which said kick-up merges, said bottom being indented to provide a centered longitudinally elongated water scoop spaced forwardly from said kick-up, said water scoop having parallel side walls, and a rearwardly inclined top wall, said top wall terminating at its rear end in a rearwardly and downwardly hull elevating plate, a power plant mounted on the hull behind the scoop and havlng a pump having a water intake pipe opening through said elevating plate, said pump having a water supply pipe leading therefrom, and a water jet assembly mounted on the hull and having a vertical rotary tube to which said supply pipe is connected, said rotary tube having a lower end located in an opening in said rear bottom portion, an elbow having a vertical arm connected to the lower end of the tube and a horizontal arm terminating in a water jet nozzle, and steering means mounted in the hull and operatively connected to said rotary tube, said pump being a rotary pump having a housing, and a vent pipe leading rearwardly from said housing through the hull transom, said rotary pump comprising a cylindrical housing composed of opposed and connected first and second sections, each of said sections having a pan-shape and having webs and peripheral walls, a pump shaft journalled through the web of the first section and carrying an impeller rotor in said first section, a wear ring connected to the peripheral wall of said first section in which the rotor runs, said water intake pipe entering the first section through its peripheral well, said water supply pipe including a water discharge pipe leading from .an axial opening and pivoted in the web of the second pump housing section, said rotor comprising a circular cup-shaped member having a tubular hub securing and secured to the pump shaft, said member having a peripheral wall, an impeller ring circumposed on and secured to the peripheral Wall of the member, and circumferentially spaced spiral blades on and extending outwardly from said impeller ring, said blades having edges running against the wear ring.

13. In combination, a water craft including a hull having a bottom comprising a main fiat horizontal portion terminating at its rear end in a kick-up and a rear horfzontal portion behind said kick-up, there being in said horizontal portion a centered longitudinally-elongated water scoop having a rearwardly-inclined top wall, said top wall being provided with an intake opening, a pump having an intake connected to said intake opening, a vertical rotary tube supported in the rear portion of said bottom, a jet nozzle below said rear portion and facing away from said kick-up and connected to said tube, and steering means mounted in said hull and open.- tively connected to said rotary tube.

No references cited. 

